WWII caused almost 77,000,000 deaths with over half of them happening in the countries of Russia and China. America lost 418,500, third from the bottom of the list according to the National WWII Museum. The Civil War cost America about 700,000 lives and continues to be more of a hotbed of emotion. The Civil War was a kind of suicide as we fought ourselves about issues we refused to resolve in better ways. According to the newspapers and popular press, WWII is over, but the Civil War continues to be fought.

We have embraced the Germans and the Japanese since WWII, but still fight each other about the Civil War. There is no hero who is completely good, and no villain who is completely evil. At some level, Hitler, certainly the poster child for evil, cared for Eva Braun, even to the point of marrying her before they both committed suicide. Our heroes, like Douglas MacArthur and George Patton were famously flawed souls as were all the other generals and leaders in WWII and the Civil War. We accept that more easily in WWII than we do in the Civil War personalities.

Life is complex, and people are complex. Media, politicians, and people with personal agendas tend to oversimplify to make their point (as I’ve just done in this statement) instead of realizing that nothing is that simple. Anyone who has a friendship with me will find that there are things in me better overlooked, other things requiring forgiveness, and other things that can be celebrated. Even the overlook, forgive, and celebrate things are not pure in and of themselves. Relationships require work, ask any marriage counselor. America is a marriage of different people into an interactive culture. Choosing blame always leads to division. Division sells newspapers, but it does not heal wounds, but rather intensifies and continues the wounds.

It is said that Sunday morning is the most segregated time in America. It makes me wonder what values we are serving, God’s or the world’s or our own? I think each church, regardless of culture or race, should send missionaries to other churches and races to display God’s beauty in their presence for all others to see and worship God. I have seen the beauty of God in black and white churches and want everyone to see it. I’ve seen division, isolation, and unforgiveness in black and white churches and know that the Bible doesn’t teach that. Humans are complicated. We need God to help us sort it out.

God makes all His people beautiful, regardless of race or culture. He makes them beautiful in their race and culture, something worth desiring to see and celebrate. He works to heal and redeem all those who are not yet His people. It is His opinion that matters, and His plan is the one which works to heal.